​France moves to legalize warrantless data surveillance

In effort to boost its intelligence gathering, France is pushing for a law to allow authorities to spy on the digital and mobile communications of anyone linked to a "terrorist" enquiry without any judicial authorization.

The government presented the draft law to parliament on Thursday.

“Facing an increasing jihadist threat, we have to further
enhance the effectiveness of the surveillance against
terrorists,” Prime Minister Manuel Valls said at a news
conference two months after 17 people died in a series of
terrorist attacks in Paris.

“Today, one of the two people who arrived in Syria has been
detected before his departure, so we have to … tighten the net of
surveillance of radicalized and dangerous individuals.”

Valls said the text of the draft provided the intelligence
services the means enough to fight terrorism, yet respecting
individual freedoms – a view, not supported by many human rights
organizations and lawyers.

The draft law would give the intelligence services the right to
perform “security interceptions” of e-mails and phone
conversations, to install radio beacons in a suspect’s cars, as
well as microphones and cameras in their home. It could also be
able to track what a suspect types on a computer keyboard with
the use of special software, and also force internet service
providers to hand over data to the security services.

However the prime minister underlined that the draft “is not
a French-style Patriot Act,” referring to the anti-terrorism
laws introduced in the US after the 9/11 tragedy in 2001 that
strengthened security controls. The future law only legitimizes
the actions, already common among the intelligence services, so
Valls added that “There will be no more grey zone,” as
cited by Reuters.

Human rights watchdogs and lawyers have slammed the project as
“devastating” for individual freedom. The Paris Bar
Association also expressed their disapproval over the “text
made without any prior coordination with the judiciary.”

Nils Muiznieks, human rights commissioner of the Council of
Europe, said on Thursday, “I am concerned about the strict
security approach that characterizes the discussions and the text
of the legislation aimed at intensifying the fight against
terrorism.”

Amnesty International statedthat it "is concerned that several of these
measures may pave the way for violations of international and
regional human rights standards that are binding on France, in
particular those regarding the rights to freedom of expression
and to private life.”

In January, following the attacks in Paris where 17 people were
killed, Manuel Valls revealed plans to boost anti-terrorism
strategies. The prime minister announced that France will employ
2,680 extra anti-terror operatives with a €425 million increase
in funding.